A frosty dip

A few weekends ago, we drove up to Plymouth to paint with my dear and talented friend Lori Beringer at a farm near her house.  The setting was perfect, but as usual, finding the perfect spot to set up took some time. 
The property included a beautiful, tiny meandering creek and I noticed my friends were on the other side of the creek.  Naturally, I thought I could just gracefully hop over to the other side.  I completely underestimated how wide the creek was under that ice cover and landed feet first in the icy water.  Being an avid winter plein air painter, this was going to happen sooner or later, right?  Getting out of the creek was a challenge with the big plein air backpack still straped to my body, but it sure made for great belly laughs.  Here I am back at Lori's to pick up some new socks and she had an extra pair of boots.  Then, it was back to the site to paint and explore. 

Water drenched socks and boots after falling in the creek while painting

One of the completed paintings of the day, without the CREEK

 

Shades of Gray

On March 6th we set out to paint in overcast conditions.  I find the lack of sun much more challenging when it comes to painting the snow. 
The first stop was a beautiful church just north of Mequon.  I've always loved how there's a nice farm across the street.  A unique scene when you live so close to a big city. 

Getting started

"Lakefield Road" 10 x 12

 

Then we ventured off to the Cedarburg Quilt Museum.  I have always loved how the buildings are all tucked together, cozy and warm just like a quilt on a gray day.

 

"Cedarburg Quilt Museum"  12 x 12

 

 

Melting before our eyes!

On Tuesday, my friend Lynn and I found a few patches of remaining snow and began painting.  At the end of our two hours, our subject changed dramatically.  Where once we had a hillside of snow, it was all gone!  The temps reached the 60s that afternoon making it a great day to paint.  We hiked about a mile back to our cars in mud and slush making it a great workout too.

More Schlitz Audubon plein air

Since there is no ice or snow along the lakeshore this year, I am focusing on painting trees in the winter.  I sometimes feel like my brain is "mush" after these paintings of all the complicated branches and patterns.  So I try to simplify the subject as much as possible.  Every brushstroke is a learning experience!

Icecanos at Schlitz Audubon

This is a new 16 x 20 studio painting completed from plein air work at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Fox Point.   These "icecanos" occur when high, cold waves crash on the shore and freeze quickly.  After a few days, formations occur that look like volcanos of ice.  If you're lucky and the wind is blowing, water will spurt up out of the holes too.  It's pretty exciting!

This painting and other icy subjects were on exhibit at the Pfister Hotel's Snow Show on Gallery Night.  Thanks Shelby and Richard for a great evening.

My first snow painting of the season

For snow lovers like me, it's been a long wait for our first real snowfall.  By this time last year, I had already painted outside in the snow more than 10 times.  So I packed up everything and headed literally around the corner to a new nature preserve area.  Lots of views of Lake Michigan and untouched forest areas.  Now I'm just waiting for the ice to form along Lake Michigan!

Snow!!!!

Yesterday was our first significant snowfall of the season.  It's so hard to believe after last year's bonanza.  I grew quite fond of painting "en plein air" snow scenes last winter and really missed it.  So I decided to take the advise of my good friend Lori and use the small studies/photographs and work larger.  Here is one of the three paintings I completed over the past few weeks.  The first is January Raw at Schlitz Audubon....16 x 20.  This painting, along with many others pieces from Schlitz Audubon, will be on exhibit during Gallery Night (Jan. 20) at the Pfister Hotel from 9 - 11:30 (it's a Snowball!!).  Two paintings from this series will also be on display at DeLind Gallery across the street from the Pfister.